Oral history interview with Marvelys Lopez Omaña conducted by Monserrath Hernandez and Barbara Tabach on February 21, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. In this interview, Marvelys Lopez discusses her childhood and growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, where her father owned a toy store. She attended an all-girls Catholic School and from a young age knew that she wanted to be a doctor. In 1993, at the age of seventeen, she was able to study abroad in the United States for one year and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She returned to Venezuela to attend medical school and while attending medical school she met her husband, who was studying to be a registered nurse at the time. Lopez Omaña recalls volunteering as a firefighter in Venezuela, and discusses the political change that happened in Venezuela during her last years in medical school. She moved to back Las Vegas with her husband in 2003 and began working as a caregiver. She recounts Her first son's birth story, and describes how she became a Certified Professional Midwife.
Oral history interview with Karen Carmichael conducted by Stefani Evans on December 9, 2019 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project.
In this oral history Carmichael discusses the world of professional dancing in the 1970s through the 1990s. She discusses her start in the industry and a variety of Las Vegas shows she participated in including: the Union Plaza Can Can, the American Dream Festival, Dasin’ Dirdy, and Babes Ahoy. She also goes into great detail behind her vision for Skyline, her adagio act, and the many celebrities she encountered throughout her career.
Carmichael also discusses her second career in jewelry design, and her experiences working with art galleries on the Las Vegas strip. She details the experiences of starting off at traveling art festivals, working her way up to award winning designs, and the art of jewelry photography. She also discusses the process of researching and publishing history for her book. She ends the interview with a discussion of what it means to be an artist and role of creativity in her life and those around her. She also discusses the ways in which others such as Betty Francisco, Hedy Jo Star, Debbie Reynolds and Sammy Davis Jr. had shaped her life.
Folder of materials from the Mabel Hoggard Papers (MS-00565) -- Personal papers file. This folder contains greeting cards, postcards, letters, and invitations from friends, family, and some organizations.
Oral history interview with Charles Scott Emerson conducted by Claytee D. White on December 21, 2017 for the Remembering 1 October Oral History Project. In this interview, Charles Scott Emerson discusses his work with the American Red Cross and the disaster relief the organization provided during the aftermath of the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview begins with a discussion on Emerson's early life and career in Missouri and how he moved to Las Vegas in 2004. Emerson talks about the American Red Cross response plans and coordinated operations that are in place for when the community is faced with a disaster, going into specific detail on the community-wide response to the October 1, 2017 shooting. He gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how relief work is organized, using this interview as a chance to praise the hidden heroes of the October 2017 tragedy, including the people at the Family Assistance Center, the Attorney General's Office, the Driver's License Bureau, and the Coroner's Office, as well as mental health providers, child care workers, blood donors, and more. Throughout the interview, Emerson puts special emphasis on the importance of community in order to offer support in the aftermath of a tragedy as well as to prevent a man-made tragedy from occurring again.
Oral history interview with Jose Leonardo Martinez conducted by Barbara Tabach and Nathalie Martinez on August 19 and 29, 2020 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Session 1: Jose discusses his childhood and what it was like growing up during the Salvadoran Civil War. He recounts the dangers he's faced and how he made his way to the United States after traveling through Guatemala and Mexico. Subjects discussed include: Salvadoran Civil War; Ciudad Arce, El Salvador; Guatemala; Mexico; Los Angeles, California.
Session 2: Jose continues his discussion of growing up in El Salvador and the violence he witnessed in the country's army during the 1980s. He also talks about his personal life after moving to the United States and his experiences navigating gang culture in Los Angeles, California. Jose recounts his previous jobs, his schooling, how he met his wife, and his family's move to Las Vegas. Subjects discussed include: El Salvador army; gang violence.
Oral history interview with Joshua Langdon conducted by Stefani Evans on June 23, 2023 for Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Langdon begins by speaking about his parents' history, and his family's frequent relocation due to his father's enlistment in the United States Air Force. Born in Colorado, Langdon moved to Germany as a young child, and then to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada where he spent the rest of his youth. He recalls living near El Dorado High School, exploring the desert, and attending Mike O'Callaghan Junior High and Advanced Technologies Academy. Langdon received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and began his career with NV Energy as an electrical engineering intern under the mentorship of Raymond C. Vogel. After fifteen years with the company, Langdon now serves as Vice President of Transmission. He volunteers with the NV Energy Foundation and serves as a board member for First Nevada, an international program promoting FIRST robotics and STEAM education in Nevada.
Oral history interview with Clara Alvarez conducted by Norma Flores and Claytee D. White on October 25, 2018 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Brian "Paco" Alvarez also participated in the interview. Clara Alvarez describes her family background and her childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She recalls dropping out of high school to work, memories of early jobs, and why she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966. She secured her first position at the Sands Hotel as a maid during a time when that job position was held almost exclusively by Black women. Alvarez describes her time working at the Sands Hotel, and recalls meeting Frank Sinatra and his wife. After working as a maid, she was recruited to deal games in clubs and casinos, and was the first woman to deal at the Las Vegas Club. Then, Alvarez explains the changes in racial discrimination in the city, and says she never felt discriminated against in Las Vegas. Lastly, she talks about moving back to Florida and what she did while living there.
Oral history interview with James Harris Johnson III conducted by Claytee D. White on May 6, 2021 for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project.
Johnson was born in Las Vegas where his father landed as a result of his Air Force career. His mother's work as a short-time horticulturist at the MGM Mirage led to a scholarship for his higher education at University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV).
After graduating, Johnson left Las Vegas to advance his career, working as an anchor in Laredo, Texas; Bakersfield, California; and Omaha, Nebraska.
Racism in Omaha was more overt and damaging than in other cities, thus prompting Johnson and his family to move back to Las Vegas and resume the work he loves. To his credit, Johnson has earned three Emmy Awards because of his artistry in anchoring, reporting, editing, shooting, interviewing, producing, and writing. James Johnson presently works as a cameraman/photojournalist for Channel 3 CBS News.
Subjects discussed include: Channel 3; Fox 5; Emmy Awards; Bakersfield; and MGM Scholarship